Category: Business

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other trade unions have declared their intention of a nationwide protest on May 9, 2023.

The reason for the protest is to demand the reinstating of local union executives of the Ghana Mine Workers Union of TUC by Sunon Asogli Ghana Limited.

The protest will take place at Kpone precisely around where Sunon Asogli Ghana Limited operates.

Reports have noted that the reason for the termination of the union executives, who happen to be workers of Sunon Asogli was that they joined the Ghana Mine Workers Union which is under the Trades Union Congress.

However, Sunon Asogli in a statement issued on Thursday, May 4 refuted such claims.

The General Secretary of the Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, intimated that Sunon Asogli’s reaction was absurd.

“TUC and all its 23 affiliates will be converging at Kpone precisely around where the company operates to demonstrate to the company and the entire world, the rights of workers must be respected. They are non-negotiable. After 9th May obviously, there will be a series of actions but we are hopeful that before the due date, something drastic will happen that result in the reinstatement of the workers if not we will stick to the plan,” he was quoted by citinewsroom.com.

He added that “We have also indicated that by close of Monday, May 8, 2023, if we do not hear anything substantial…the TUC’s structures have made a decision for us to act accordingly.”

Source: Ghana Web

The Electricity Company of Ghana has asked consumers using its electricity app to pay their bills to be patient with them.

The company’s Managing Director, Samuel Mahama, speaking to the press on Thursday, May 4, in Accra, admitted that the ECG is having internet connectivity problems but will soon rectify them.

“Our power app is still going through an enhancement. We are receiving traffic. I must admit, we’ve been having some internet problems from our internet service providers and we are working hard to switch to a better one or add on to it so that our service becomes dynamic.”

He, however, noted that the users can use the app to view their bills and urged them to pay their bills while the company works around the clock to address the challenges.

“On the power app now, you can actually view your bill. We are doing our best to make sure that all those whose information is on our system will be getting an estimated bill monthly until finally, we can visit your premises to give you your meter,” he said.

Source: Ghana Web

ActionAid Ghana (AAG) has advised women to use their skills prudently to set up their own businesses for enhanced economic power to support their husbands in catering for the well-being of their families.

Mr Kwame Afram Denkyira, the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Manager of the AAG, a global justice federation working to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication gave the advice at a ceremony to distribute materials and equipment to 39 women trained under the Combating Modern Slavery Project at Nsawkaw in the Tain District of Bono Region.

The project, being funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation aimed at building the capacity of state institutions to implement, identify and protect vulnerable groups and victims of modern slavery.

The beneficiaries were trained in detergent production, animal rearing, catering, bee keeping, baking, soap making, mushroom and vegetable cultivation, tiling, beads work and make-up.

Mr Denkyira stated households that had alternative livelihoods could be empowered to live dignified lives and resist indecent work, violence, exploitation, harassment, and abuse within workspaces.

He said the International Labour Organization estimated that about 27.6 million people were trapped in forced labour and out of the number women and children constituted 11.8 and 3.3 million, respectively.

Mr Denkyira assured the AAG would continuously work tirelessly to support communities for sustainable development and appealed to the public for support for vulnerable individuals and groups by building their capacities to resist and seek redress for their recruitment into modern slavery.

He said modern slavery manifested itself vividly in the forms of exploitation of children and women labour, particularly within the agricultural sector.

Mr Denkyira announced the Ghana Enterprise Agency had been commissioned to train 400 female household heads to overcome their vulnerabilities of being recruited into modern slavery practices because poverty had been the major cause of taking the vulnerable into modern slavery.

He said the Anti-Modern Slavery Committees in partnership with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service had successfully rescued 45 victims of human trafficking.

Mr Prince Koduah Nimoh, the Tain District Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department lauded the AAG for the Project to save women and children from such menace.

He said it was also going to help to keep children in the area in school and not to be used as farm labourers for money during cashew season.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The new CAMON 20 Series will be launched on 8th May 2023 in Ghana with a unique three-dimensional deconstructionist design that was unanimously commended by the judges of MUSE Design Awards 2023.

TECNO’s soon-to-be-unveiled CAMON 20 Series on the Ghanaian market picked up the prestigious MUSE Design Awards 2023 as a Gold winner in the Product Design of Telecommunications category.

TECNO’s CAMON 20 Series embodies a groundbreaking stylish design thanks to its industry-first CAMON PUZZLE deconstructionist design. This win further illustrates TECNO’s commitment to product design innovation and continues to gain recognition from well-established international authorities.

Held by the International Awards Association (IAA), the MUSE Design Awards is one of the most influential international awards in the global design industry, known for its rigorous judging system and high-standard criteria. The award focuses on exploring artistic beauty and design innovation to foster “design muses” and promote global innovation and design excellence with expert judges from creative and design-led disciplines across the globe.

According to IAA spokesman Thomas Brandt, “We celebrate good design in all forms and TECNO CAMON 20 Series caught our eye with its outstanding attention to detail, superb craftsmanship, and innovative design qualities, making it a worthy winner of our Gold Award.”

TECNO fused the aesthetic concepts of top fashion brands and pioneering designers to create its unique CAMON PUZZLE design. TECNO has engraved a three-dimensional luxury lychee-pattern back cover material of Magic Skin while integrating sapphire-grade nanocrystalline ceramic into the construction of the device’s back cover.

TECNO challenges the traditional smartphone design language with advanced materials and bold design philosophy with their latest CAMON 20 series for users to make a stylish statement. Despite the amazing visual aesthetics of the TECNO CAMON 20 series, the user experience is also impeccable with the introduction of the newest material technology “Magic Skin” which brings out the best of deconstructionist design, creating an incredible comfort with a natural tactile texture that is fingerprint proof.

With its unique appearance and high-quality material standard, the CAMON 20 series is undoubtedly a trailblazer by industry design standards with high commendation from the MUSE jury that highlights TECNO as a pioneer in

smartphone design.

MUSE Design Awards 2023 Gold Winner:

https://www.facebook.com/TECNOMobileGhana/videos/250684964012006

To learn more about TECNO, please follow @TECNOMobileGhana across all social media platforms

Source: Ghana Web

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has cautioned fuel retail outlets and motorists against using ramps to aid the pumping of fuel into vehicles.

It said tilting vehicles on ramps to fill them to the brim could damage fuel tanks and lead to explosion and destruction of vehicles and lives.

A statement from NPA and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the Eastern Regional Manager, Mr. David Owusu-Kena., gave the caution at an NPA media engagement in Koforidua.

The media engagement, organized by the Communications Department was to highlight the Authority’s activities in the petroleum downstream industry and respond to industry-related questions from the media.

Mr. Owusu-Kena said fuel tanks were not supposed to be filled to capacity since fuel required space for expansion.

He said fuel in fully filled tanks spilled over on the vehicle and on the forecourt of fuel stations, which could spark fire.

Besides, he said, the expanded fuel could damage the fuel gauge and leak through old tanks into the exhaust pipe, which could start fire and burn down the vehicle and cause injuries and loss of lives.

On requirements for siting a filling station, Mr. Owusu-Kena said the prospective applicants needed permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (EP), the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) and the assembly before the NPA’s granted permit for construction of a fuel station.

He said the Authority made sure that the applicant had secured all the necessary approvals from the EPA, the GNFRS and the assembly to ensure the safety of residents and protection of the environment.

Taking his turn, the Head of Planning of NPA, Mr. Dominic Aboagye, outlined measures the Authority had put in place to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability and supply in the country.

The interventions include management of storage depots, the laycan allocation programme and stock monitoring and reporting.

Besides, he said, the Gold for Oil programme, the Bank of Ghana forex support to Bulk Oil Distribution Companies and the granting of Special International Oil Trading License were key to preventing any risk of fuel supply disruption.

Mr. Aboagye said local refining of crude oil by Akwaaba Oil Refinery and the Platon Gas Oil Refinery were supporting the sector.

He said local fuel refinery would be ramped up with the expected start of operation by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the completion of the Sentuo refinery.

Welcoming the media on behalf the NPA Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs. Maria Edith Oquaye, said last year’s media engagements across the country focused on pricing and quality of petroleum products, and indicated that this year’s sensitization would be on requirements for siting filling stations and security of supply of petroleum products.

A member of the Governing Board of NPA and Chairman of the Consumer Services sub-committee, Mr Kwami Sefa Kayi, lauded the NPA for the sensitization drive and urged the media to be more proactive by asking the NPA industry-related questions for clarifications.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 29-year-old trader who threatened another trader with a sword has been sentenced to 150 days imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Osman Boustani, charged with threat of harm, pleaded not guilty to the charge last year.

When the case was called in court, the accused changed his plea to guilty.

This was after the Court presided over by Evelyn Asamoah took the accused person’s plea again.

He was therefore convicted on his own plea and sentenced accordingly to serve imprisonment to serve as a deterrent to others.

Counsel for the convict had earlier pleaded with the court for mitigation.

The facts as presented by the prosecution led by Police Chief Inspector Richard Amoah were, the complainant, Yussif Iddrisu is a trader who deals in African wear at a place opposite the Ghana Commercial Bank on Oxford Street Osu, while the convict is also a resident of Oxford Street.

The prosecution said on April 09, 2022, at about 1500 hours, the convict parked his vehicle by the roadside on Osu Oxford Street where the complainant had displayed his African wears for sale.

Amoah said the complainant approached the convict and pleaded with him to move a little forward to enable pedestrians to have a clear view of his displayed goods.

The prosecution said the convict never adhered to the request made by the complainant but rather became offended and insulted the complainant with a threat to beat him up.

He said the convict alighted from his vehicle apparently to beat the complainant up but people at the scene intervened and stopped him from executing his intention.

The prosecution said the convict returned to his vehicle and moved away.

It said a few minutes later, the convict returned to the scene holding a sword and brandishing the same on the ground amidst threats to kill the complainant.

The prosecution said the complainant together with one other escaped into a nearby jewelry shop to seek refuge.

Amoah said the convict followed the complainant to the shop where he had sought refuge and continuously brandished the sword hitting the door of the shop, but he could not gain access because the door was locked.

The prosecution said the convict after a while left the scene and the complainant also left the shop to the Osu Police Station and reported the matter.

He said the convict was arrested and during investigations, the sword was retrieved from the room of the convict concealed in a sofa.

Source: Ghana Web

The Hair Senta, Ghana’s leading 100 percent human hair extensions company and beauty brand is taking steps to launch into the United States market. The move comes following established strategic alliances with beauty industry professionals and clients across the U.S. market over the years.

Kickstarting this move have been multiple collaborations with international beauty companies and clients who have worked with the brand for almost a decade.

The recent campaign embarked on by the Hair Senta was in April 2023 where the brand networked and raised the brand’s awareness at America’s Beauty Show which took off in Chicago, Rosemont inside the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

With the business’s humble beginnings in a car trunk in 2008 and officially launched as a brand store in 2012, the Hair Senta has metamorphosed into a household name for 100 percent human hair extensions in its originating country, Ghana, and quite well known within the Hair and Beauty industry on the continent.

With clients across the globe, the company already has some footprints in the US where they have been shipping to clients in New York, Atlanta, Maryland, Virginia, California, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston among a few other states for nearly a decade.

During the recent trip to America’s Beauty Show, Gwen Addo, CEO of The Hair Senta together with her business partner Gyo Gyimah, CEO of Phamous Media Group and Co-Founder of HIBS Africa – indicated that the company was not only planning its launch into the US market but was also attending the show as they did with most of the other beauty shows within the US to strategically network and build relationships with potential partners for the 2023 Hair Senta international beauty show (HIBS Africa) in September 2-3, 2023 in Accra, Ghana.

“America’s Beauty Show has been one of the biggest and the most sold-out beauty shows in the US for the past 100 years. So it was a good decision to experience this year’s edition which marks 100 years.

The trip was not only about scouting for new opportunities but also aimed to build partnerships with international players within the beauty industry,” said Gwen Addo.

The company also got acquainted with the latest global beauty trends and game changers during this event and have developed great alliances for future collaborations between the US beauty companies and the continent.

One of the most memorable experiences of the trip was the opportunity to tour the facility (factory) of Repechage, a spa-focused beauty brand who have been in business for over 40 years since 1980.

The Hair Senta plans to launch the Repechage brand at the 2023 HIBS Africa event in Ghana as they recognize Ghana as a great market opportunity for the Repechage brand and a re-introduction of their lines through a distribution channel with the Beauty Senta, an affiliate to the Hair Senta in a few months from now.

Gwen Addo emphasized the importance of brand visibility and the formation of strategic alliances with beauty companies to expose the brand to a wider audience thus their recent marketing campaigns happening through US beauty shows and on billboards at the Times Square in New York, Manhattan.

The Hair Senta sees great potential in the future of the hair and beauty industry in Ghana, particularly in the production of new hair products, construction of facilities, factories, and collaboration with existing and emerging hair and beauty giants to provide a solution-oriented approach toward the innovation of new products onto the market.

The company strongly believes that there is plenty of room for both existing and new entrants in the marketplace to become globally competitive and intends to leverage the insights and knowledge gained from both local and international partnerships over the years to inform its expansion plans and strategy going forward.

Gwen also encouraged businesses within the beauty industry space to continue to pursue world-class excellence in their approach and to be open to connecting with other players across the globe to develop stronger ties for future growth and the development of the Hair and Beauty industry within and outside of Africa.

Source: Ghana Web

Mr Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, the Deputy General Secretary of the General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) has been honoured for his 26 years of dedication, meritorious and outstanding service to the Union and the Trade Union Movement.

He was part of the team that rescued over 4,500 Children from Child labour, Forced Labour and Trafficking and organising the parents into the Union.

Mr Tagoe picked the awards during the 2023 Special National May Day Celebration held in the Upper East Regional Capital, Bolgatanga on the theme:’ Protecting incomes and pensions in an era of economic crisis: Out responsibility.’

He was awarded for his invaluable contribution to the Union in various capacities as the Deputy General Secretary, Anglophone African Coordinator, Global March Against Child Labour, Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental / Child Labour (Specialist).

The Deputy General Secretary created the ‘Torkor Model’, a Concept of Child Labour Free Zones in Africa.

Mr Tagoe told the GNA that ‘I see this award as a victory in our work in promoting labour and decent work for Agricultural Workers in Ghana especially our work in addressing child/ Forced Labour.’

He dedicated the award to the over 4,500 children, now champions, who they rescued during their programmes.

‘It gives us the hope that the battle can be won and together we can end Child/Forced Labour and also it is a big motivation for me to serve GAWU and the country, the more,’ he added.

He also dedicated the awards to his family for their support and permission to be absent from home most of the time, saying hard work pays.

Source: Ghana News Agency